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Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

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Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#221
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Regardless, my experience was that its only value is the placebo effect. If a substance actually does anything real, and there is potential for a pharmaceutical company to patent and profit from it, then you can generally rest assured that it will be scheduled to require a doctor's prescription. For just about everything, the over-the-counter options consist of vitamins and quackery. So either blatantly break the la…

for someone who likes melatonin but wants something stronger to aid sleep that's not medication/pills I recommend valerian root, it'll put your right to sleep reset your stress, like clearing your bodies ram.

Everything I've been able to find about valerian says that the effect is basically placebo. I got a bottle of (big-ish smelly and brown) valerian pills one time, really didn't do anything for me.

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#222
post #12

Not a nootropic as such, but fuelling my brain on ketones rather the glucose has made an incredible difference in concentration and cognitive ability. (Ketogenic = High fat, carb restricted diet)

No, what is making the difference is the boost of cortisol and adrenaline levels caused by HF/LC diets.

Re: Ask HN: Do you take nootropics?

#223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> So that I can work without having to blast music through $300 noise-canceling headphones (which itself impairs focus, but is the lesser of all evils)? I have seen people mention noise-cancelling headphones in the context of noise and open offices. Don't anyone use noise cancelling ear muffs? I am sure listening to music 6-8 hours a day is not good for your ears.

I think people might feel that they look silly with the noise canceling earmuffs - don't they tend to be big and industrial looking? Anyway, good noise-canceling phones can actually reduce the amount of volume you need. Sometimes I just turn the noise canceling on and enjoy the reduction in noise, without even playing music. Or I can play music quietly to mask the background noise, instead of blasting it. Pretty comp…

I am should have mentioned that I use an earmuff at work. I do look dorky but it does help.
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